生態觀光一詞是生態保育和觀光遊憩的結合,其旨意在指一種特殊的觀光規劃,其地點之選擇以具有生態特色者為對象,其開發與規劃是以永續經營為依歸,期使旅遊者於還程中能瞭解到自然生態環境之奧妙與重要,進而產生保護資源之實際參與,此外此種觀光活動所生之經濟利益亦可做為資源保護之經費來源。一般而言,生態觀光規劃之要素包括地點、使用量、分區使用、活動設計、設施設計、環境教育及居民參與等七項,如何將此所列之要素建構在規劃及管理之過程中則為發展生態觀光成敗之關鍵。本文以綠島為例,將例中所提的發展生態觀光的五項策略,及生態開發、生態經營、環境解說及教育、生態資訊及生態網路等建構為一架構之概念提供規劃者對生態觀光一個具體的思考方向。
The word ”eco-tourism” refer to the actual tours for enjoying environmental resources and gaining a cheaper understanding of local environments from a stand point of environmental conservation. Generally, the planning essentials of eco-tourism include destination selection, zoning, and resident involvement. The development of eco-tourism on Green Island was introduced as an example to interpret the development process of eco-tourism. In the case, five strategies was proposed as a development framework. They are eco-development, eco-management, environmental interpretation and education, eco-information and eco-network.